Axle-locking device for trolley-harps.



IfATBNTED AUG. 4, 190s.v 'A. J. WIGGIN. AXLE LOOKING DEVICE FOR TROLLEY HARPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, IQOZ.

N0 MODEL Patented August 4, 1903.

UNITED STATES i PATENT -Fries.

ALBERT J. VVIGGIN, OF KENNEBUNK, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES A. BODWELL, OF SANFORD, MAINE.

AXLE-LOCKING DEVICE FoRTR oLLEY-HARPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 735,639, dated August 4, 1903.

- Application filed February 7, 1902. Serial No. 92,995. (No model.)

lowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letterson thedrawingsrepresentinglike parts. My invention is a device for removably look ing the axle of a trolley to the trolley pole or harp, as it is called.

My invention has for its purpose the provision of, simple means for giving great strength and rigidity and yet permitting the ready removal or replacing of the axle in the harp for the purpose of fixing the trolley or otherwise adjusting or attending to that part of the apparatus; and to this end my invention resides in providing an axle which is automatically locked-by a spring device while being held in position mainly by the stronger or body portion of the harp.

Further details and advantages of my invention will be pointed out in the course of the following description,reference being had to the accompanying. drawings, in which I have illustrated one form of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken detail showing in side elevation my invention applied to a usual street-car trolley and trolleypole. Fig, 2 is an enlarged detail in side elevation, the trolley being removed and parts being broken away for the purpose of illustrating more clearly the novel features of my invention. Fig. 3 isacentral vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the axle.

It will be understood that the trolley a and trolley-poleb may be of any usual or preferred vkind and also that the harp may vary according to the requirements of its position and service, subject to the novel details thereof, which will now be explained.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 to 4.-, it will be seen that the harp c,as herein shown, comprises a casting having opposite projecting parts c,-each of which is provided at its upper end with a vertical recess 0 terminat- 50' ingatitslowerportionin an offset or L-shaped part 0 preferably rounded at the corner 0 and cooperating with this recess is a retaining device, shown as a leaf-spring 0 said spring being provided with an opening 0, herein shown as rectangular and located opposite the L part c of the recess 0 The axle (1 (shown in enlarged detail in Fig.

4) may in general be of any shape, size, and arrangement, being provided, however, at its ends with special construction for cooperat- 6o ing with the features already described, being for this purpose herein shown as cutaway at its opposite ends to provide flattened or angular portions (1, preferably rectangular in cross-section, to move freely in the slot or recess 0 without, however, permitting the axle to turn, and at the outer ends of these holding parts d I provide projections (1 prefer ably angular and preferably located at the lower side opposite to the part c of the notch or recess 0 when the axleis in position and overhanging the bottom thereof.

Having provided the parts substantially as above explained, it will be readily understood that if a trolley breaks, for instance, it can quickly be removed and another replaced simply by unsnapping the springs a from ongagement with the ends of the trolley, and then upon pulling the trolley straight out the axle will turn readily from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines and be instantly removed from the harp, whereupon the broken wheel or trolley is slid off from the axle and replaced by another one, and then the ends of the axle are placed between the springs 0 the'angular holding parts (1 being placed vertically in the slot 0 and when pressed down to the bottom of said slot turned horizontally to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and as soon as they reach this position the springs c at once snap over the logs or projections d and lock the axle rigidly in place. In this position the main strains are taken by the casting or body part of the harp and the springs themselves 5 are simply required for retaining the axle in proper position to be held by the overhanging or L. -shaped portion of the harp -recesses, while the projections 61 prevent the parts 0 from springing apart and the shoulders d I00 prevent them from springing together.

It will be understood that my invention'is capable of various embodiments different in details of construction, arrangement, and combination from the specific embodiment herein shown, and accordingly I wish it understood that I do not limit myself otherwise than as expressed hereinafter in the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a.trolley-harp provided with a notch or recess, an axle adapted to fit removably in said trolley-harp and having an end angular in cross -section for cooperating with said notch or recess to prevent rotation of the axle, and automatic means for locking the axle in fixed position in said recess.

2. A device of the kind described, compris: ing a trolley-harp provided with an L-shaped notch or recess, an axle removably mounted in said harp and having an angular-shaped end for entering, in one position, the vertical part of said recess, and turning into another position for occupying the horizontal part of said recess, and means for locking the axle in the latter position.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a trolley-harp provided with an L-shaped notch or recess, an axle removably mounted in said harp and having an angular-shaped end for entering, in one position, the vertical part of said recess, and turning into another position for occupying the horizontal part of said recess, and a spring carried by said harp and provided with means forinterlockingwith said axle for locking the latter in the latter position.

4. In a device of the kind described, a harp and a removable axle and trolley thereon,said harp having recesses for holding and interlocking with said axle, said axle and trolley being movable together into and out of interlocking position with said recesses in the harp, and a spring locking device fast on the harp in position for embracing the end of the axle and locking the trolley and axle in the harp.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a harp, having at its upper ends L-shaped recesses, an axle provided at its opposite ends with angular portions adapted, in one position, to drop into the vertical parts of said recesses and turn at the bottom thereof into the horizontal parts of the recesses, and opposite springs for locking the axle in the latter position.

6. A device of the kind described, comprising a harp, having at its upper ends L-shaped recesses, an axle provided at its opposite ends with angular portions adapted, in one position, to drop into the vertical parts of said recesses and turn at the bottom thereof into the horizontal parts of the recesses, opposite pairs of springs for locking the axle in the latter position, said axle having projections,

and said spring having openings to receive said projections when the axle is in operative position. a

7. In a device of the kind described, comprising a trolley-harp, and an axle and trolley removably mounted therein, said harp having a recess opening upwardly at the end of the harp permitting the axle and trolley to be inserted and removed together, and a spring for securing said axle and harp in locked position, said spring being fast on one and normally interlocking with the other for preventing relative movement between the harp and axle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALBERT J. WIGGIN.

Witnesses:

WALTER L. DANE, GERARDO L. ALLEN. 

